34 Iconic Moments From Football Through The Ages Every Fan Should See In This World Cup Season

Sapna Malik updated

Content Curator updated

“Out of all the unimportant things, football is the most important”-Pope John Paul II

Nick Hornby writes in Fever Pitch: A Fan’s Life, real life doesn’t usually provide last-minute winners, and this may be the primary reason we are so fascinated by ‘football’. We as football fans seldom remember each football match in its minute detail, even the entirety of the match gets lost from our collective memory. What remains with us are ‘individual moments’ - The transcendental shots, the miraculous saves, the last minute match winners.

It is these moments which encapsulate the ups and downs of our emotions and makes us fall in love with the Beautiful Game, over and over again. Truly, no other sport can make its fans experience such a myriad of emotions at every turn of the watch hand, with the game’s ability to transform tears into joy (and vice versa) at each momentous twist. Furthermore, the Fifa World Cup 2018 is already half-way through, so, it makes perfect sense to reminisce about the glorious past of the world’s most popular sport. Here’s presenting 45 Iconic Moments From Football History which brilliantly captures the essence of the emotions attached to this game.

1. Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of ‘God’ Goal

Maradona’s legendary hand-ball goal in the 1986 World Cup Final against England is widely considered more than just a goal.

2. Pele Greets Ronaldo After Brazil’s 2002 World Cup Win

Brazil’s most successful player ever, Pele, hugs Brazil’s most successful player of the 2000s, Ronaldo, after Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Germany in the World Cup Final. Both goals were scored by Ronaldo himself.

3. The Man. Utd. Team Boarding Their Ill-fated Flight

The 1958 Manchester United all-star team called ‘The Busby Babes’ board the flight that crashed in Munich, killing almost all the players. They were renamed, The Flowers of Manchester.

4. Italian Star Roberto Baggio’s Finale Penalty Miss

Roberto Baggio is arguably one of the greatest to play the game without ever winning the World Cup. It was in the 1994 World Cup that he came closest to lifting the coveted cup of life, that was until he dashed all his hopes by missing the decisive penalty shot.

5. Andres Escobar’s Own-goal That Got Him Killed

1994 was a time when drug-lords ruled Columbia with significant stakes in the country’s football team. Columbia’s defender Andres Escobar, who was known for his clean-style of play, had just shot an own goal and returned home, only to be brutally gunned down. Ironically, Escobar had just given an interview after the World Cup Loss stating, ‘Life doesn’t end here.’

6. Paolo Di Canio Pushes The Referee

Paolo Di Canio was known for his temper tantrums and this wasn’t the first time he was cautioned for his controversial behaviour. Being shown a red card, Canio proceeded to push the referee earning him an 11-match ban and 10,000 pounds fine.

7. FC Start at The Death Match of 1942

This photograph features FC Start consisting of players from the Ukrainian football clubs, Dynamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Kiev. The 1952 Death Match featured the Nazi-backed star-studded German national team called Falkelf and Ukrainian prisoners of war, erstwhile footballers, called FC Start. It was a tremendous blow to the Nazi prestige that these bunch of malnourished prisoners went on to hammer the heck out of Flakelf, at every match and re-match.

8. Colombian Keeper Rene Higuita’s ‘Scorpion Save’

The original sweeper-keeper, Rene Higuita of the Colombian national side was known for his flair for theatrics. But, none more so than this scorpion save in Columbia’s friendly against England.

9. Zidane Headbutts Marco Materazzi

This one was built for heartaches, Zizou’s last World Cup appearance when he had a real shot at taking France all the way, abruptly ended with this legendary incident. France never recovered from Zizou’s loss and Italy won the 2006 Cup.

10. Roberto Carlos’ Iconic ‘Banana’ Free Kick

Another one from the archives of French nightmares and Brazilian dreams, is Roberto Carlos’ power-packed free kick that saw him curve the shot at an impossible angle which perplexed the players as well as the audience.

11. Alex Ferguson Hugs Ronaldo after EuroCup 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo was discovered by Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, way back in 2003. Ronaldo still considers the latter to be his godfather so naturally, when Portugal won the Euro cup 2016 he went out of his way to hug Alex Ferguson in the stands.

12. Messi Scores His First Goal for Barcelona

Messi’s journey towards greatness commenced on the back of a goal from the then rising star, as he celebrated by hopping on teammate Ronaldinho’s back. This moment is largely seen as the passing of the torch from one great to another.

13. Iniesta’s Dedicates The World Cup to Dani Jarque

No image speaks louder on Spain’s 2010 World Cup victory than this one, where Iniesta paid tribute to his deceased team captain, Dani Jarque. Jarque passed away of a heart attack at age 26, one month after he was named the captain for the World Cup squad.

14. Maradona Warmly Greets Ronaldinho

The real sign of greatness is when one learns to appreciate greatness in others.

15. Robin Van Persie becomes The Flying Dutchman

Netherlands hammered the Golden era of Spanish Football players, on the wings of Van Persie’s impossible goal as he flew mid-air to net the ball. This magnificent feat had him dubbed ‘The Flying Dutchman’.

16. David Luiz Falls to The Ground in Despair

The German World Cup win of 2014 had some heartbreaking moments on its way. But, none more so that the 7-1 drubbing of the home team in their home ground. This image perfectly captures Brazilian despair after being outclasses by their German counterparts.

17. Ronaldinho Invited for Barcelona Team Photo

In a display of friendship and camaraderie, Ronaldinho was invited to pose with Barca players one last time, before Barca faced off against rivals and Ronaldinho’s new team, Real Madrid.

18. When Two Kings Met: Pele and Muhammad Ali

Apparently, both of them were fans of the other. A truly inspirational photograph.

19. The Ferocious Battle of Old Trafford Picturized

In September 2003, Manchester United and Arsenal met at Old Trafford, which went on to be one of the most ferocious games in the history of the Premier League.

Ruud van Nistelrooy missed the penalty, also the last kick of the game, as Martin Keown, the Arsenal centre back, was famously pictured celebrating the Dutch striker’s failure from the spot by jumping over him.

20. Underdogs, Leicester City Wins The EPL

In a classic story of the underdog victory, Leicester City tops the English Premier League to become the 2015-2016 Champions.

21. David Beckham gets Sent Off in 1998 World Cup

The picture that spurned the headline “10 Heroic Lions, 1 Stupid Boy”. In a thrilling contest between old rivals England and Argentina, England’s blue-eyed boy unnecessarily kicked out at Diego Simeone to earn himself a straight red. Soon. Beckham was dubbed the 1998 World Cup villain.

22. Messi Cries after Losing The Copa America Final

Another final, lost. Messi’s tears knew no bound after Argentina’s Copa America loss to Chile.

23. Oliver Kahn Consoling The Opposition Keeper

Bayern Munich’s Oliver Kahn, widely considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time, consoled opposition keeper Canizares after Valencia’s loss to Bayern Munich in the 2001 Champion’s League Final.

24. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Bicycle Kick against England

Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic showcased his superlative skills by this bicycle volley which stunned the English goalie.

25. Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero Scores Last Minute

This photo still gives goosebumps to the Manchester City fans, while it gives their city rivals recurring nightmares. The former needed to win at home to beat United to the title two seasons ago, but it was not going to plan, with the sides drawing.

Enter Sergio Aguero. The Argentine striker who converted a pass from Mario Balotelli and fired home to deliver a much anticipated Premier League crown to the club.

26. Balotelli’s Famous Pose after Italy’s EuroCup Victory

Balotelli scored two goals as Italy drubbed Germany in the 2012 Euro Cup semi-final between the two nations. The stance that sparked a thousand memes and became an overnight sensation! Enough said.

27. Beckham Bids Adieu to Football

Beckham bids a teary farewell to the whole 53 yards in what will be his last match.

28. Kaka Prays after AC Milan’s Champion’s League Win

The devout Catholic Brazilian, prays to Jesus in a symbolic gesture that has stayed with fans forever.

29. Robbie Fowler’s ‘Cocaine Snort’ Celebration

In the midst of rumours and fan theories of Fowler’s ‘cocaine addiction’, Robert Fowler scored the winning goal against Everton and celebrated by mocking his ill-wishers. Although, he later apologized for this controversial celebration.

30. Hurst’s Controversial Second Goal

In one of the most controversial World Cup wins, England’s Geoff Hurst’s second goal was deemed a goal. The decision sparked intense debates among fans and football experts, and later goal-line technology proved that Hurst’s shot did not cross the goal line.

31. Materazzi and Rui Costa at The Chaotic Milan Derby

The Milan derby held between AC Milan and Inter Milan in 2005, is infamous for the fan ruckus and violence which led to the match being abandoned mid-way, before being resumed. But, this picture of Materazzi and Rui Costa, from opposing sides, is iconically symbolical of the spirit of brotherhood and fraternity which permeates through football.

32. John Terry’s Penalty Slip against Manchester United

England and Chelsea captain’s penalty slip against arch-rivals Manchester United cost Chelsea heavily. It cost them their best chance to win the Champions League in 2008.

33. Pele’s Last World Cup

It was almost poetic that Pele started off his World Cup venture with a debut goal, and ended it also with a goal. Well, two goals. Nothing less to expect from the player whose dribbling skills led to football being called The Beautiful Game.

34. The ‘Embrace of The Soul’

Finally, this is one of the most powerful images in the history of football. An armless Argentinian fan goes to celebrate with the players following the side’s 3-1 win over the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup final. The world-famous photograph was dubbed “embrace of the soul” or El Abrazo del Alma, due to the man’s inability to physically hug Fillol Tarantini.

I end this article on the same note as I had started it, football is about emotions, it is about moments. So, be sure not to miss these moments and live these emotions by subscribing to SonyLiv where you can watch all the world cup fixtures in real time. Now, you can breathe football and liv football, without any lag.

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